"Sir."

"Sir Disedinel."

Disedinel's eyes opened, and he found himself in a dark room.

"Huh?" It took him a while to recognize the room.

"Oh, it's you, Zene... Why didn't you turn on the lights?" Disedinel tried to stand up, but ended up bumping into Zene.

"Ugh, my bad."

...

Zene stood silent.

Disedinel stood up, trying to avoid hitting Zene again.

"What's the matter?"

Disedinel then looked for the switch, trying to turn on the lights after feeling uncomfortable looking at Zene in the dark.

"I was processing something. Disedinel, I'd like us to hang out." Zene turned around to look at Disedinel.

"Uhh, right. If you want to talk about something, feel free to say it now." Disedinel hurried over to adjust the blinds on the large windows for the sake of their privacy.

"This house doesn't cut it." Zene lowered them and closed them down.

"Doesn't cut what?" Disedinel looked at Zene, trying to understand what he meant.

"Nothing. When do you think we'll be able to leave?" Disedinel looked at the ground after Zene's question.

"Did you not listen earlier? It's like it won't take a while for a chance to pop up." Disedinel looked back at Zene, waiting for his response. But Zene left the room, leaving Disedinel curious.

Zene quickly moved through the stairs and went to the living room, finding Kaika and Slantse still chatting.

"Slantse." Zene sat down next to Slantse.

"Oh... Zene?" Slantse raised his gaze from the book he read.

"When will we have our ship?" Zene made it direct.

"Hm, that? A few days? No worries-" Zene interrupted Slantse. "Yeah, right. Where is the ship? We're leaving now." Slantse was left surprised.

"Zene, you're the one who got us into this mess, so keep quiet." Kaika felt like he had to step in.

"... No worries, it happens often that the long wait here plays around with the nerves of people. In fact, it took a while to find somebody who had to take on my job." Slantse stood up. "Please excuse me." And Slantse left the room.

Kaika glared at Zene. "What are you in a hurry for? You had the option to help us earlier. And now you're hurrying to get out of here. So, what happened?" He didn't sound happy either.

"Something fell out of the equation." Zene folded his arms.

"Think a few times more before you speak, okay? I already know how we could use you, so just do as I say." Together with Kaika and Zene, silence also came along to haunt the room.

Until Slantse came back.

"Alright, Zene, what are you upset about?" Slantse sat down in his previous spot.

"This place feels tight around my neck." Zene looked down, as if thinking through things.

"Then just leave on your own—" Zene added Kaika to the list of people he interrupted.

"Then go ahead and follow your death if that is what it is you want." Zene stood up and looked at Kaika, waiting for him to say something.

"Just what do you... Nevermind." Kaika couldn't hide the fact that he's holding back.

"Zene, what do you mean?" Slantse stood up, too.

"It's nothing, at least according to a certain boy." Zene moved his chair aside, trying to make space for himself, but Slantse stopped him.

"Mind if you tell me where you're going?"

They stood there, looking at each other. Silent.

Until Disedinel came in. "What's going on?" He looked at the table. Specifically on the book that is on the table. "Huh, isn't the book... whatever, so, what happened? And why are you two standing like that?"

"Zene's being... unbearable." Kaika kept his gaze away from Zene.

"I just talked to him a few minutes ago, though. Could it be you who is the problem?" Disedinel took a seat. "Let's all take a seat, this isn't how we should talk."

"I am leaving." Kaika stood up.

"No, take a seat."... But he was stopped from leaving, so he sat down again.

The other two sat down, too.

"Okay, Zene, what's wrong?" Disedinel looked at Zene, determined to fix the issue that arose.

"We have to leave. And not return here, for a long time." Zene looked back at Disedinel, sharing the resolve to have the problem solved.

"Zene, please don't say something like that in front of a native of the place." Disedinel rubbed the back of his head, embarrassed.

"... No, I understand what he means. But please, go on." Slantse looked down, digging himself into his thoughts.

"Zene, what makes you think that?" He tilted his head.

Disedinel's question left Zene silent.

...

"It will be inevitable. But it isn't yet." He looked at his right hand.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Disedinel leaned in closer to Zene.

"Enough. All of you, go to sleep." Slantse stood up.

Kaika, knowing it was the only thing he could do after the order, went upstairs.

Disedinel, knowing he couldn't do much for now, went upstairs, too.

"I'll go in the garden until I feel like it." Zene sauntered his way outside.

Slantse nodded.

And the situation was diffused. Temporarily.

The garden was a decent size for one in the backyard. It had two circles and many flowers in them. Bushes were wrapped right around the circle.

Right between the circles was a bench. With somebody on it.

Vaneila was sat there.

"So, what happened?" Vaneila crossed her arms, as she had already made a few guesses about the noise earlier.

"I objected to waiting here. I asked where the ship is, too. But nothing." After he went around the flowers, he sat down next to Vaneila.

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

The white bench lets you comfortably stare at metal stands filled with more flowers.

A lot of flowers.

"There's no point. I doubt they'll make us wait for us to leave." Vaneila crossed her arms, imagining the scene.

"Can't we get the ship ourselves?" Zene looked down, thinking through scenarios.

"I know where it is. The problem is how we'll go there." Zene could tell the situation wasn't good.

More problems appear as he thinks it through.

"Anyway, I'll go take a rest. Make sure you don't do anything stupid." She stood up and went back inside.

Zene dove into his memories.

"Zene, you're gonna have to go along with them." It's Astra.

Zene recalled when they were on the cliff against the Linel Depression.

"You sure? Home is far off the path you want me to go through." Zene folded his arms, looking at Astra, feeling ready to dismiss what he had to say at any moment.

"Trust me on this one. Just do it. Okay?" Astra looked down on Zene, smiling.

"Do you think I want to?" Zene stood up from the cliff, matching Astra's level.

"Do you think you know what you want?" Astra left Zene alone with his questions.

...

"If you make me regret it, you'll be part of Yugan." Zene looked at Astra with one serious look.

"Woah, yeah, yeah, alright." Astra chuckled, backing off.

"So, where are they now?" Zene looked at the depression.

"Would now do?" Astra came closer.

And Zene snapped back to the present.

"Bastard." He frowned.

"Hey, who's a bastard?" Zene looked back, unpatient to figure out who spied on him.

"So the devil does appear when you talk about him." He looked away from Astra.

Astra now had a different, purple-themed once again, outfit. It was just a purple suit and black shoes.

"Hm? A devil, where?" Astra looked around.

"Ooh, you're sarcastic!" Astra chuckled. "Quiet." Zene looked over his shoulder, checking if there's anybody else around.

"It feels nice seeing Earth-like planets, right?" He jumped over the bench and sat down on it.

Zene looked at Astra, and away.

"Just what did you do?" Zene clenched his fists.

"Your composure has worsened, hasn't it? Oh, well, just touched some things here and there." Astra imitated pressing buttons.

He looked at Zene again. "Did I touch a nerve?"

Zene moved his gaze further away from Astra.

"You're not wrong." And even further.

"Why did you come anyway?" Zene looked back at Astra, at last maintaining eye contact.

"Ah, Zene himself looking at me? Don't make me blush. Okay, I'll be serious." Astra took a deep breath.

"I've only come to check on an old friend." Astra smiled.

"You're good at ruining the tempo." Zene looked at Astra with an annoyed face.

"No worries, things are fine as they are now." Zene instantly stood up and walked inside, not even saying goodbye.

"The room straight to the left after you go upstairs is yours." Slantse instructed Zene as he entered the living room.

"Thanks. Are you not going to take a rest?" Zene looked at Slantse as he ambled towards the stairs.

"I have some things to go through before I sleep. Good night." He waved at Zene.

Zene only nodded before he went upstairs to his room.

His room was small. It seems like the three left him the smallest room.

He considered that possibility but thought it left him with less work tidying the room.

A wide wardrobe was located to Zene's right, and a bed in the corner of the room.

The room had only one window, which wasn't small or big. It left him with a view of the garden, but not anything else that is interesting.

As a whole, the theme was off-white. A pleasant room.

He noticed Astra wasn't there, on the bench, anymore.

Zene sighed, going to bed.

As was falling asleep, he thought about how they day had gone.

It was an eventful day. Except for that long wait in the room some time ago.

But his thoughts wandered a bit too far, and he was distracted from sleeping.

Trying to push the thoughts aside, he sighed. It was essential to get a rest.

But suddenly, the sun lit up the room. It was morning already.

Zene pushed back the covers and swung his legs over to the side of the bed.

He laid down on the floor and stretched.

Unfortunately for him, a knock had to interrupt his morning stretches.

A voice could be heard.

"Zene?"

Zene looked at the door. "Come in." He stood up.

The door opened, revealing Disedinel to be behind it.

They greeted each other.

"Zene, it's breakfast. Come downstairs as soon as you can." Disedinel closed the door.

After closing the door, Disedinel sighed.

Put some clothes on beside your underwear before you let anybody come in, damn it.

And soon enough, the five were gathered around the exit.

"Alright, everybody. Follow my lead." Slantse unlocked the door, and they all left the house.

"We'll go to a place designated for us to eat. Got it? Oh, good morning." Somebody greeted them as they were walking on the street.

"Are there no vehicles?" Zene looked around the streets.

"Vehicles? You mean machines to assist us in moving? There are none."

Zene looked down. "That is something to be proud of." He exclaimed.

"Certainly." Slantse agreed, nodding once.

They reached the place. Slantse opened the glass door for the four.

The place offered a seat for the five of them. And five minutes later, the waiter handed everybody's breakfast.

"The breakfast here is free." It consisted of bread, bacon, cheese, and tomatoes.

"Thank you on the behalf of my friends." Slantse shaked his head.

"No problem." And they ate.

"Slantse, when will we be able to get our luggage from our ship? We can't go on like this for very long." Vaneila looked at Slantse, sounding genuine.

"I think later today." He smiled.

Vaneila sighed.

"Really?"

Slantse nodded in response to Disedinel.

He finished his meal. "Excuse me, everybody." Slantse stood up, and he went somewhere inside the place.

Perhaps the bathroom.

Zene looked outside through the window next to the table. It revealed the garden of the restaurant.

A few minutes later, the waiter came to the table.

"Your friend Slantse is busy. He told me to go to your own house."

Disedinel stood up. "Alright, guys. Let's go. Thank you for the food." He bowed down.

And they left the place.

Disedinel reassured himself, reminding himself that their chance would be today.

The walk was short. Not shorter than usual, though.

They reached the house.

"He locked it when we left, so it should be..." Disedinel opening the door interrupted Kaika's worry.

"It's unlocked." Disedinel looked back and smiled, letting everybody go in.

"There's a note on the table." Zene noticed the note in the living room.

Disedinel grabbed it and began reading it out loud after giving it a read himself.

"The note says... Sorry, everybody. I won't be able to be your escort anymore. It's complicated, but... If that isn't a problem, Zene will know where to go... Alright, what does that mean?" Disedinel looked up, pausing at Zene, waiting for everybody to share their opinion.

"So, Zene, what did you do again?" Kaika glared at Zene.

"Kaika, please don't go at it again." Disedinel moved between Zene and Kaika.

"Think this through, Disedinel. Look at him. Who knows what he did in the middle of the night?"

Kaika pointed at Zene. But Disedinel lowered Kaika's arm.

"No pointing."

"You two keep your mouth shut. Zene, what do you think?" Vaneila pushed aside Disedinel and Kaika, waiting to hear out Zene properly.

Zene looked down.

He sighed. "I am unsure. Perhaps the authorities found a replacement for him."

"Can you explain the last part?" She picked up the note from Disedinels' hands.

"No... I don't think I should explain it, but... Follow me." Zene opened the door and left the house.

Vaneila and Disedinel followed him.

She looked back at Kaika, who was still inside.

"Do you need me to hold your hands?" Vaneila shot him with a serious look, and Kaika came out, too.

"We'll have to do this, everybody." Zene looked over his shoulders at the group as they walked.

"Do what?" Disedinel raised an eyebrow.

"Follow along. Then, you'll find out." Zene smirked, visualising a scene in his head.